Iowa (IA) hiking offers outdoor enthusiasts everything from steep hills in Northern Iowa to the sandy trails along the Des Moines River in the south.

Discover trails along Eastern Iowa's Mississippi River shoreline where paths follow the river and provide scenic views. Head across the state to Western Iowa where hikers can enjoy fun trails that follow the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers. Southern Iowa offers the same terrain with the Des Moines River, where hikers can meander along trails that follow the river. There are easier trails in this area that families with children can enjoy too.

Head up to Northern Iowa for a change of scenery. The terrain changes from rolling hills and tall grass prairies to steep hills and valleys. Hikers can enjoy a topography that seems more mountainous, and they can explore secluded, wooded trails that may pass by creeks, streams, or even waterfalls.